LEADERS WILL TAKE SOME CATCHING

3rd October

By Bill Gardner

While second-placed rivals Ponteland United were enjoying an idle Saturday, Alnwick Town extended their lead at the top of the Premier Division to a daunting seven points by beating visitors Killingworth Sporting 4-0. Yet to be beaten and with a hundred percent record at St James Park, the league leaders inflicted a third successive defeat on Killy with first half goals by Kevin Elliott, Dale Kennedy and Scott McMullen and a fourth for Chris Moffat in the 85th minute.
While Ponteland now have three games in hand to tackle the top-of-the-table deficit, Percy Main retained third spot with a creditable goal-less draw against reigning champions Harraby Catholic Club at Purvis Park. Harraby thought they had the ball in the net in the first minute when Mark Worrall’s drive was only partially parried by home keeper Phil Hogg, deputising for the injured Rob Rodgerson. Percy Main player-manager Jason Ritchie hacked the ball clear but admitted after the game that it was a close thing.
At the other end a cross from Pierre luc Coiffait shaved the bar and Michael Bowman’s fierce drive struck Harraby keeper Jordan English in the chest. And English had to be at his best to tip over Malcolm Morien’s header from Ritchie’s cross.
Both keepers excelled in what was a fascinating contest and Hogg in the Main goal brilliantly saved a great header from Marc Shiel. The same player beat Hogg in the dying minutes but once again the Villagers’ man-of-the-match Ritchie headed off the line. And the end result was fair to both sides.
Shankhouse’s recent climb up the table was interrupted as waterlogging at Northburn caused postponement of their game against Stocksfield. But this was the only casualty of the weather and Carlisle City’s improving form was reflected in their 4-0 victory over Murton at Sheepmount. City made the brightest of starts and Murton keeper Aiden Vout did well to deny Jamie Heath an early opener. But Vout was beaten after 20 minutes when Olly Driver charged down an attempted clearance and his pass to Mark Graham was hammered home from twelve yards.
Heath played a big part for City’s second goal, beating the offside trap to feed Robbie Mather who tapped in his first league goal of the season. But Murton continued to battle and they twice had Stephen Turner going close to reducing the deficit. And just before the break Turner was grounded by home keeper Jack Twentyman who was lucky not to concede a penalty.
Murton pressed after the changeover and Paul Wintrip’s clever chip came down off the crossbar with Twentyman beaten. Against the run of play however the Cumbrians increased their lead and a square pass from Graham found young substitute James Hartley who netted from a tight angle.
Wintrip and Turner still went close to getting a determined Murton off the mark, both being thwarted by late saves by Twentyman but City scored their fourth goal in the 89th minute. Again it was Hartley on target after he was put through by Stuart Kilgour.
Heaton Stannington’s hopes of getting up among the leaders were dealt a blow and they were soundly beaten 4-1 at home by a revitalised Seaton Delaval outfit. Adam Donaghey scored from the spot for Heaton to cancel out Craig Johnson’s early opener for the visitors. Jordan Fry restored Delaval’s lead and Steve Anderson also netted to make it 3-1 at the interval. Heaton missed with a second penalty attempt after Stephen Howes added to Delaval’s tally.
Still with no away win to their credit, Blyth Town were rather fortunate to share the spoils from their 3-3 draw at Wark. Goals in each half for Wark’s Dale and Lee Telfer were met with Blyth replies from Gary Day and Neil Blades. It seemed to be game over when Jamie Peel restored the home side’s lead withj five minutes to go but an 89th minute strike by Jeff Fuller rescued Blyth.
Ashington Colliers won 3-1 away to Walker Central and have secured three wins and a draw in four recent outings. It was all square at half time after Walker’s Nabby Benny cancelled out Glenn Bolton’s early goal for the Colliers but when Marc Richardson bagged a brace in the 75th and 80th minutes it was all over for the Tynesiders.
A spell of poor form and a points deduction had seen Gateshead Rutherford tumble down the table so their 2-1 victory over bottom rung hosts Cramlington Town restored some confidence. Craig Horsfall fired Rutherford into an interval lead and after Jordan Watson levelled for Cramlington the Gateshead winner was put away by Kevin Hay with ten minutes to spare.

DIVISION ONE – REYROLLE ELBOWED OUT BY THE BAY
Because of County Cup commitments only four First Division games were played, with two of them involving teams at the top of the table. And while Hebburn Reyrolle were out of action they were nudged out of pole position by Whitley Bay A. The Bay, still unbeaten and with a hundred percent travelling record, won 3-2 at Peterlee and thanks to strikes by Ian Lee (2) and Michael McMullen they were three goals up at the interval. The Newtowners hit back through Tommy Orchard and David Paul (penalty) but an equaliser eluded them.
Amble United moved up into third spot behind Hebburn after beating troubled hosts Chopwell Officials 4-1 with goals supplied by Josh Hay (2), Rikki Hume and Sean Taylor. Irving Ruddick replied for Chopwell who remained second from bottom and are still looking for their first league win.
In fifth spot despite only winning one of their last five matches, South Shields United were beaten 4-2 away by Newcastle University who could soon be climbing the table. Three goals inside five first half minutes for the University’s Patrick Stokle, George Coyle and Ed Savitt knocked the stuffing out of their visitors. Two replies from Mark Davies before the break offered United a ray of hope but the flame was extinguished when Tom Smith scored a fourth from the spot for the Students.
Wallington made it into the top half of the table after beating Heddon 2-1 at Scots Gap and just edged this contest between two in form sides. The Wallington goals were scored by John Paxton and Ben Fenwick with Ben Somerthwaite netting on his debut for the losers.

DIVISION TWO – SIMONSIDE BEGIN TO THREATEN
Games at Amble and Cramlington in the Second Division were washed out, leaving only two to go ahead while most teams were involved in the Northumberland Minor Cup. In one of the surviving clashes league newcomers Simonside SC picked up their third win on the trot to go level on points with leaders Wallsend Town although the Town now have two games in hand. The Simonside lads did the trick with a 3-2 victory at home to Northbank Carlisle but it was a close call. After Dave Scroggins put the home side in front the Cumbrians snatched the lead with replies from Sergio Royo and Andy Rogerson. Steve Graham’s leveller got Simonside back on track and with only three minutes to spare Sean Flood scored their vital winner.
In the remaining league game the Alliance’s other new boys Red House Farm were beaten 3-2 at home by Wallsend Boys Club who leapfrogged over them into fourth spot. Zak Brogden scored both of the Farm’s goals but they were just edged out in the end. Two penalties confidently put away by Rob Haney kept the Boys Club in contention and their third goal scored by Chris Thompson proved decisive.
Meanwhile Swalwell passed a Preliminary Round test in the Durham Minor Cup, winning 5-4 against Etherley Welfare in a real thriller at Bishop Auckland. With the help of an own goal gift Swalwell made progress with strikes by Joe Adams, Chris Smith, Stuart Rook and Rob Beverley who scored the goal of the game with a 25-yard special.

NORTHUMBERLAND MINOR CUP HITS AND MISSES
Thirteen Northern Alliance hopefuls were trying their luck in the first round of the Ideal Stelrad Northumberland Minor Cup. Of these, six made an early exit while another six booked places in the next round along with Cullercoats who were waved through after scheduled cup hosts Chemfica Development defaulted.
There were three all-Northern Alliance ties in the County Cup’s first round with Tynemouth United, Hexham and Stobswood Welfare making progress at the expense of league colleagues.
Tynemouth won 4-2 away to Berwick United Ultras with their goals shared by Aaron Chalmers, Chris Wallace, Paul Gordon and Mike Murtha outweighing the scoring efforts of Berwick’s Sean Phillips and Andy Burgon. And Hexham were 4-1 victors away to Newcastle BT who scored first through Gregg Hamilton. A Scott Coates penalty got Hexham back on terms and the same player fired them in front before further goals w ere added by Steve Coates and Darren Dobson for the visitors.
Stobswood Welfare were 3-2 victors away to Newcastle East End and the other first round successes were achieved by Wallsend Town, Newcastle Chemfica and North Shields Athletic.
Goals by Sean Reid and Craig Burke earned Wallsend their 2-1 second round ticket away to Craster Rovers who were flattered by the finmal score. But both North Shields and Chemfica made more emphatic progress.
North Shields Athletic hammered cup visitors Longhoughton Rangers Reserves 8-1 with goals supplied by Dave Jeffers (hat-trick), Tom Cowx (2), Dave McDonald, Liam Bainbridge and Craig Boyle. And Newcastle Chemfica made the cut with a 6-2 victory away to Newcastle RVI Lochside. Martin Dixon and Steve Spence bagged a brace each for the winners and their other marksmen were Steve McLaughlin and Matt Harrison.
Including previously-awarded byes the following sixteen Northern Alliance flag bearers will be going into the draw for the NFA Minor Cup’s second round draw:
Tynemouth United, Cullercoats, Wallsend Town, Hexham, Stobswood Welfare, Newcastle Chemfica, North Shields Athletic, Amble, Cramlington United, Forest Hall, Morpeth Sporting Club, Red House Farm, Seaton Burn, Wallington, Whitley Bay A and Whitley Bay Town. Gosforth Bohemians could be joining their colleagues if they overcome cup visitors Newcastle Medicals in a rescheduled first round tie.